As the school year is quickly coming to an end, once again we say goodbye to a class of seniors. Sports often play a great role in many students high school experiences, and many seniors have a lot of memories attached to them. There are many challenges to work through and lessons to be learned from sports, specifically while going through high school.
Senior baseball player Harley Mish says, he has learned the skill of dealing with failure through high school athletics. He says coming off of a successful junior season, he held himself to a high standard, expecting himself to perform the same, if not better. Alongside this, his favorite memory was hitting his first ever home run at a home game.
A balance of school and sports is crucial for being successful, and as senior tennis player Sarah Hage says, and she has also taken away what it takes to be a good teammate, and cherishing the memories she has made with her team throughout the years. Her favorite moment from high school sports was winning the ECC title after a match of an incredible 3 hours and 17 minutes, and celebrating with her team after.
Many high schoolers would say that they have met some of their best friends playing sports, and have developed great friendships with their teammates. This is just the case for senior softball captain Melanie Martin, who says her favorite takeaway from playing high school sports is the different bonds created with her team for different sports. Martin has had a very successful high school career, with her most treasured memory being making it to the state championship her sophomore year and being able to play in such a good game.
For senior ex-volleyball player and track captain Emma Way, she says that the number one thing she has taken away from Waterford High School sports specifically is that there will always be favoritism in athletics, and you cannot let that affect how you perform and see yourself. Way says that actually quitting volleyball was the best decision for her, proving that sometimes it can be best to let go of a sports regardless of playing for years.
Senior track captain and multiple school record holder Elliot Childs says that learning to work hard through sports even when you don’t feel like it. Connecting to this, Childs says his favorite memory of high school athletics was having the opportunity to run at the New Balance Indoor Nationals 2023 championship for the 60m hurdles. Alongside Childs, track captain and also school record holder Rhys Tickner says his favorite memory was too competing at Nike Indoor Nationals championship for high jump, and he looks forward to attending nationals again this season for the javelin. Working through adversity is a skill that he says he has taken away from high school athletics.
Another senior track athlete and captain Lexi Collins’ number one takeaway from sports at Waterford High School has been the work ethic she has developed. She says showing up to practice and working hard every day is a motivating feeling. Her favorite memory is going to state opens for both indoor and outdoor track.
Senior Emma Smathers, member of the field hockey and basketball team, says she has truly learned the importance and value of teamwork. She says it is hard to be successful without communication with your teammates, and that sticking together through a season of emotions truly bonds the team. Her favorite memory is the big win against East Lyme in field hockey her junior year. Through ups and downs that game helped the team build confidence.
Reflecting upon the last four years, high school athletics have set many teenagers up for success, a future, have taught countless lessons, and created bonds for many years to come.
